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India’s Maharashtra state has launched a process to procure a major slice of grid-linked solar power, pushing for low prices in line with earlier tenders this year. This week, electricity distributor Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSDECL) shared a notice inviting online bidders for up to 500MW in grid-connected PV projects. The reverse e-tender, open until 17 September, will be used to hand out 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with MSDECL among winning projects. Bids will require bank guarantees of INR1.4 million/MW (US$19,497/MW) and will face a ceiling price of INR2.8/kWh (around US$0.039/kWh), the new tender documents show. The tariff cap falls below bid prices at a tender held earlier this year in 116-million-inhabitant Maharashtra, India’s most second populous state and the home of the city of Mumbai. In May, the state recorded tariffs of INR2.87-2.91/kWh (around US$0.041/kWh, based on exchange rates at the time) for a 250MW auction, which drew bids from Tata Power and others. Speaking to PV Tech at the time, Vinay Rustagi, managing director of consultancy firm Bridge to India, conveyed his “surprise” at what he described as “aggressive” tariffs. "This is a challenging site – relative lower irradiation, forest land, difficult access – and has high solar park charges. There was limited bidding interest,” Rustagi added. The new tender’s INR2.8/kWh tariff cap also lies in the region of the INR2.71/2.72kWh and INR2.74-2.75/kWh average bids recorded at Maharashtra’s two earlier 1GW state solar auctions, held in May 2018 and February 2019. Maharashtra’s solar tendering efforts come as the Indian industry heads – if predictions by Fitch Solutions come to pass – towards a boom between 2018 (26GW) to 2028 (105.9GW).

into but still has significant tracker expectations, with Australia, China and India all forecast to appear in IHS Markit’s top ten tracker markets list and to

land procurement continuing to hold back India’s PV sector, the government is considering up to 55GW of solar and wind projects along the border with Pakistan

Laois and Co Wicklow. Statkraft also operates in the PV markets of India, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.K. and wants to deploy 2 GW of solar

Rajasthan, Tata Power claimed. Rajasthan is among the largest solar states in India with it and 3 various other states-- Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh--

be remembered that Microsoft had finished its initial renewable energy deal in India in 2018 when it accepted acquire 3 MW of solar-power from Atria Power for its

possibility for MSME alone is greater than $200 billion. Planning to give India's initial asset financing as well as quality platform for solar, the platform

the forecast duration. This is a period when several markets, especially India, will certainly add to their own capacities on the back of federal government

operate' basis through e-Reverse Auction held by Solar Energy Corporation of India, the firm stated. "It is a pleased moment for SJVN that it has landed its

the quarter ended December 2021, the Indian independent power manufacturer's income boosted 27% year-on-year to US$ 60.2 million, more than US$ 2 million greater